The attacks of recent days have come as Rangel was reportedly in talks with a House ethics committee that has been investigating him for two years. Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey and at least two House challengers have made Rangel contributions an issue, calling on Democrats to return the money.

“Throughout the campaign, Congressman [Joe] Sestak has spoken about accountability and putting principle over politics, but it is now becoming clear that his pledges and lofty promises are just hollow words from another Washington insider,” Toomey campaign spokeswoman Nachama Soloveichik said about contributions Sestak has received from Rangel’s political action committees.

The issue has also reared its head in the 8th Congressional District, where Republican Mike Fitzpatrick’s campaign is hitting Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) to return the cash.

“Murphy ran for office pledging to drain the swamp of Washington,” Fitzpatrick said in a recent statement. “All he’s done is jump in with both feet.”

And 3rd District Republican Mike Kelly’s campaign became the latest to chime in Monday morning.

“At bare minimum the bipartisan House Ethics committee believes that the Congressman from New York is ethically challenged,” Kelly campaign spokesman Brad Moore said in calling for Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) to return contributions she’s received. “The right thing to do would be to return Charlie Rangel’s donation.”

But this time Dahlkemper’s campaign was already preparing to address the matter.

“As our office indicated several months ago, the Congresswoman would not act on campaign contributions from Mr. Rangel until the House Committee on Standards and Conduct had issued a decision,” campaign spokesman Bryan Oberle said. “Now that the ethics committee has determined that Mr. Rangel violated House rules, Rep. Dahlkemper has decided not to keep the contributions. They will be donated to local charities.”